Temple in the Jungle

You have to live with yourself.

You have to live with everything you've done

and with everything you'll do.

I feared myself for too long.

I let the shame of my actions grow tendrils

deeper in my mind over the years.

I watered the soil every day.

Soon, the temple was overrun by jungle.

I lost my way. No one could find me.

Finally, I began screaming for help.

This wasn't where I wanted to be.

I reached out into the darkness

and she grasped my hand.

Waking days later,

still trembling but alive.

I am here.

So many days I should have died

and I persisted.

I must go on.